Dirt Road to Heaven

When ever there was a day for fishing the Highwood River was a favorite of mine. Catching fish was secondary to a day of wandering the river.

The Highwood originates in the Canadian Rockies in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park, in the Highwood Pass below Mount Arethusa. It flows south and is paralleled by the Kananaskis Trail between Elbow-Sheep Wildland, Don Getty Wildland and Emerson Creek Park. It turns east and flows along Highway 541 and through the community of Longview. Continuing east, it passes through High River, ending when it enters the Bow River southeast of Calgary.

Rated as one of the top white water rafting rivers in North America, the Highwood also is home to some big Browns, crystal clear water, and fishing holes that will impress even the most finicky fly fisherman.

Road to the river just a little North of Longview, Alberta.

Crystal clear and really cold. Swimming not recommended for the faint of heart.